Greenfield, Massachusets
September 22, 2008
 The
Organic Trade Association (OTA) has appointed a new
executive director. Christine Bushway (photo) today became the
third executive director in the association’s 23-year history.
OTA is the membership-based business association for the organic
industry in North America with a mission to promote and protect
the growth of organic trade, to benefit the environment, farmers
the public and the economy.
“OTA is very fortunate to have Christine Bushway as its new
executive director. Her passion for this opportunity, combined
with her outstanding leadership skills, association experience
and great energy will help the OTA move to the next level,” said
Julia Sabin, President of OTA’s Board of Directors. “With recent
strengthening of OTA’s organizational infrastructure and policy
success with passage of the organic provisions in the 2008 Farm
Bill, the association is well positioned to continue on a growth
trajectory, and Christine is the right leader for OTA at this
time,” Sabin added.
"I am very excited to be serving as the new executive director
of the Organic Trade Association and am looking forward to
working hard at continuing to strengthen the integrity of
organic while enhancing the business climate for those companies
meeting the increasing demand for organic,” said Christine
Bushway, OTA’s incoming Executive Director.
A native New Englander, Bushway graduated from the University of
New Hampshire with a Bachelors of Science from the College of
Life Science and Agriculture. Her career has been spent working
in the food and agriculture industries. She has held leadership
positions including agricultural trade association chief
executive officer, chief Washington lobbyist representing the
egg industry, and served as spokesperson on television, radio
and in print on issues ranging from nutrition to food
contamination and production.
She has been a business owner, expanding her consulting business
to a full service advertising, public relations and marketing
strategies agency focused on food and agriculture clients and
issues. Her clients have included the American Egg Board, the
Pennsylvania Beef Council, Radlo Foods, the New England Brown
Egg Council, Great River Cooperative, Texas Peanut Producers,
Penn Ag Industries Association, the New Hampshire Apple Growers,
and the New Hampshire Audubon Society. Most recently, she served
as Director of State Programs for the American Egg Board to
enhance national promotion of the Incredible Edible Egg consumer
awareness campaign.
Having grown up in southern New Hampshire, about 30 miles north
of OTA's Greenfield headquarters, she expects to relocate to the
area within the next year. "The move takes me back to my roots
and a large extended family and friends," said Bushway. OTA
headquarters are in Greenfield, MA, with offices in New
Brunswick, Canada, and an active presence in Washington, D.C.
and Ottawa, Canada.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based
business association for organic agriculture and products in
North America. Its 1,700 members include growers, shippers,
processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors,
importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's
mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to
benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
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